Thoughts for the Day

Peter said to Jesus, 'Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have? Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life.'

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

My Aunt Winifred was an important part of my early life. She hated any diminution of her name - such as "Winnie" or "Fred". She was a life-long Anglican, and read books on Prayer and Theology, as well as Poetry and Spirituality. She never attended a school, but learnt a number of foreign languages and ended up working for the Spanish Ambassador in London, before leaving England to live in Costa Rica at the age of 94.

Today we celebrate the life of Saint Winifred, or Saint Winifride, as she is sometimes known. She lived in the 7th century CE, but her hagiography or what we might call her idealised biography (often based on miracles) has blurred the real woman. Her cult really flourished in the 12thh century. She was the daughter of a Welsh chieftain and connected to royalty, who refused the advances of a certain Caradog because she was determined to become a Nun. He supposedly decapitated her, but her Uncle, Saint Beuno restored her head and Caradog died. Where the head fell a healing spring sprung up. Winifred later moved to Gwytherin in Denbighshire, becoming a Nun and then an Abbess. In 1991 the remnants of an oak reliquary were discovered that had contained an article of clothing, but not bones. This was recognised from earlier drawings and dated to the 8th century, which gave evidence of her having been recognised as a saint soon after her death.

If we want to offer our whole life to God we may not be faced with death as the disciples or Winifred were, but there can still be challenges to face, not least as to what God is calling us to do? Try asking Him about this!

Lord Jesus Christ,
the Disciples, and Saint Winifred
answered Your call
to give their lives to You,
even though this brought them danger.
May we too offer our lives to You,
and answer Your call
to work for You in whatever way
You need.
Amen.